Self-locking wire holder mounted in a housing of a charging connector

ABSTRACT

A clip ( 60 ) is mounted in a housing ( 11 ) of a charging connector ( 10 ). The clip ( 60 ) includes a box-shaped main body ( 61 ) formed by assembling two half members ( 62, 62 ). The main body ( 61 ) is prevented from moving in longitudinal and circumferential directions of a wire (W) relative to the housing ( 11 ) by the surface contact of the outer surface of the main body ( 61 ) with the inner surface of the housing ( 11 ). Wire insertion holes ( 67 ) are formed in the main body ( 61 ) by assembling the half members ( 62, 62 ) so that pairs of curved portions ( 66, 66 ) face each other. The wire (W) is held in the main body ( 61 ) by being tightly held by the curved portions ( 66, 66 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a wire holder used for a charging connector andto a charging connector provided therewith.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,090 discloses a wire holder for a charging connectorwith a housing and a wire holder retained in the housing. The wireholder is a cylindrical member made of rubber and is formed with wireinsertion holes. Wires are inserted through the wire insertion holes. Atightening member, such as a crimp ring, then is tightened over theentire circumference of the wire holder to hold the wires. The wireholding of U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,090 holds the wires only by producingfrictional forces between the inner peripheral surfaces of the wireinsertion holes and the outer peripheral surfaces of the wires. Thus,the wire cannot be held when pulled with a strong force exceeding thefrictional force and there is a possibility of wire breakage in thehousing. To increase a wire holding force, it is thought to stronglyhold the wire, for example, using a wire holding clip. However, there isconcern about damage to the wire and rotation of the wire holding memberrelative to the housing.

The invention was completed in view of the above situation and an objectthereof is to prevent the damage of a wire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a wire holder to be mounted in a housing of acharging connector. The wire holder comprises a substantially box-shapedmain body formed by assembling two half members with each other. Themain body is prevented from moving in longitudinal and/orcircumferential directions of a wire relative to the housing by thesurface contact of the outer surface of the main body with the innersurface of the housing. At least one wire insertion hole is formedthrough the main body for holding the wire. The wire insertion hole isformed by cutting concave curves in edges of the half members and thenassembling the half members so that edges with the concave curves abutand so that the concave curves oppose one another to form the wireinsertion hole. The concave curves are dimensioned to tightly hold thewire without damaging the wire. The inability of the wire holder torotate relative to the housing also prevents damage to the wire.

The half members may be identical components. Thus, the types ofcomponents can be reduced and component cost can be reduced.

The curved portions ensure a substantially uniform pressing force on thewire, thereby further preventing damage to the wire.

One or more escaping portions may be provided at the opposite ends ofthe curved portion and incline radially outward of the wire insertionhole. Accordingly, parts of the wire can enter the escaping portions toprevent the damage even if the curved portions are pressed excessivelyagainst the outer peripheral surface of the wire while assembling thehalf members.

Two wire insertion holes may be coaxially arranged while being spacedapart in the longitudinal direction of the wire. Accordingly, pressingforces on the wire in the respective wire insertion holes can be reducedsince the wire is held in the wire insertion holes at two positions.Thus, damage to the wire is even less likely.

The invention also relates to a charging connector with a housing, atleast one wire drawn out from the housing, and the above-describedholder for fixing the wire in the housing.

The housing may be formed integrally by fixing first and second halfmembers to each other by bolting.

A connector connecting portion may be mounted in a front end of thehousing and may be held tightly by the both half members. At least onepositioning portion for positioning the half members may be provided ata position of the first half member distant from the connectorconnecting portion and contacts the inner surface of the other halfmember when the half members are assembled in proper postures.

The mounting portion substantially may be divided substantiallybilaterally symmetrically by both half members and the mounting portionsof the half members may be arranged to face each other when the halfmembers assembled.

The positioning portion may be provided adjacent to the mountingportion.

The half members may be fixed to each other by bolting.

Bolt fastening portions may be arranged in the first half member and thepositioning portion may be provided at a position to prevent the secondhalf member from rotating upon receiving a force in a rotationaldirection as the bolt is tightened performed at the bolt fasteningportion most distant from the connector connecting portion.

The positioning portion may be connected to a first opening edge of thefirst half member and the bolt fastening portion is connected to secondopening edge substantially facing the first opening edge.

The housing may include a grip arranged behind the connector connectingportion and from which at least one wire may be drawn out. Thepositioning portion may be provided in the grip.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent upon reading of the followingdetailed description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a charging connector.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the charging connector.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where a cover-side housingis removed in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing only a base-side housing in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a metal clip in FIG. 3 when viewed sideways.

FIG. 6 is a section showing the metal clip in FIG. 3 cut along alongitudinal direction of a wire to be divided into upper and lowerparts when viewed sideways.

FIG. 7 is a section along A-A of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing an inner surface side of the base-sidehousing.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing an inner surface side of the cover-sidehousing.

FIG. 10 is a section along B-B of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a half member.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the metal clip.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the metal clip.

FIG. 14 is a front view of the metal clip.

FIG. 15 is a section along C-C of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A charging connector in accordance with the invention is identifiedgenerally by the number 10 and includes a housing 11 having a pistolshape. The housing 11 comprises a front housing 20 connectable to avehicle-side connector (not shown). A base housing 30 and a coverhousing 40 hold the front housing 20 from left and right sides. Further,as shown in FIG. 2, the base housing 30 and the cover housing 40 arefixed to one another by bolts B. It should be understood that the basehousing 30 and the cover housing 40 may be fixed to one another byclips, retainers, latches, or similar coupling members.

As shown in FIG. 3, at least one wire W is held in a clip 60 housed in agrip 13 of the housing 11. The clip 60 preferably is made of metal Thegrip 13 extends rearward from a release button 52 and is alignedobliquely down with respect to a connecting direction CD of the fronthousing 20 to the vehicle-side connector. Note that a longitudinaldirection of the wire W is referred to as forward and backwarddirections FBD and a draw-out direction of the wire W is referred to asa backward direction in the following description on the internalstructures of the grip 13 and the clip 60.

The wire W is drawn out backward from the grip 13 and is to be connectedto a household power supply. A battery (not shown) installed in avehicle is to be charged by connecting the charging connector 10 to thevehicle-side connector.

A contact bush 15 is mounted in a draw-out opening of the grip 13 forthe wire W. The contact bush 15 is made of a flexible or resilientmaterial, such as flexible rubber material, and projects back from therear end of the grip 13, as shown in FIG. 6. The contact bush 15 is tobe positioned on the inner peripheral surface of the grip 13 while beingretained in forward and backward directions FBD by mating engagement ofone or more projections and one or more respective recesses. The wire Wpenetrates through the contact bush 15 to prevent damage by contact ofthe wire W with the rear end of the grip part 13 when the wire W isshaken in a vertical or lateral direction and provides sealing betweenthe wire and the housing 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, a lever 50 is housed in the housings 30, 40 and alock claw 51 is provided near the front end of the lever 50. The lockclaw 51 projects forward in connection direction CD from the front endopening of the two housings 30, 40 and is out from the front housing 20.The lock claw 51 engages a lock projection (not shown) on thevehicle-side connector when the charging connector 10 is connected tothe vehicle-side connector in the connecting direction CD so that thecharging connector 10 and the vehicle-side connector are held in aconnected.

On the other hand, the release button 52 is provided near the rear endof the lever 50. This release button 52 projects out through a releasewindow 12 in an upper end corner of the grip 13. The lock claw 51 isdisplaced away from the first housing 20 when this release button 52 ispushed in. Thus, the lock claw 51 is released from its locked state andthe charging connector 10 can be separated from the vehicle-sideconnector. This release button 52 is pushed down by the thumb while thegrip 13 is gripped by the hand.

The front housing 20 is made e.g. of synthetic resin and is a forwardlyopen tube. Terminal accommodating portions 21 project forward in thefront housing 20 along the connecting direction CD and also are in theform of tubes. Female terminals (not shown) are accommodated in therespective terminal accommodating portions 21. Small-diameter wires areconnected to the female terminals by crimping and are bundled togetherin the housing 11 to form 13.

As shown in FIG. 3, an outwardly projecting flange 22 extendscircumferentially around the rear end of the front housing 20. On theother hand, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, a base mounting groove 31 isprovided near a front portion of the base housing 30 for receiving acircumferential part of the flange 22. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 9, acover mounting groove 41 is provided near a front portion of the coverhousing 40 for receiving the remaining circumferential part of theflange 22. Thus, the flange 22 is held from left and right sides by themounting grooves 31, 41. The housings 30, 40 then are fastened by thebolts B to hold the front housing 20 tightly from left and right sidesby the base housing 30 and the cover housing 40.

In this way, the front end of the housing 11 is in a backlash-free rigidstate and defines a rigid body with no likelihood of displacing thehousings 30, 40 when the base housing 30 and the cover housing 40 areassembled and fastened by the bolts B. However, unlike the front housing20, there is no member firmly held in the grip 13. Thus, there is aconcern that the housings 30, 40 may be displaced in a tighteningdirection of the bolts B when the bolts B are tightened.

Bolt fastening portions 35, 45 are provided in the housing 11. The boltfastening portions 35, 45 most distant from the front housing 20 areprovided near the contact bush 15 in the grip 13. Before the bothhousings 30, 40 are assembled, the bolt fastening portion 35 isconnected to an opening edge of the base housing 30 in the grip 13 andthe bolt fastening portion 45 is connected to an opening edge of thecover housing 40 in the grip 13, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. A forceacting in a clockwise direction about the bolt fastening portion 45 maybe produced in the cover housing 40 when the bolts B are fastened to thebolt fastening portions 35, 45. As a result, the opening edge located ata side opposite to the bolt fastening portion 45 may try to rotatetoward the bolt fastening portion 35 of the base housing 30.

Accordingly, at least one positioning rib 16 is provided in the basehousing 30 to properly position the cover housing 40, and particularlyto prevent rotation or displacement of the cover housing 40. Thepositioning rib 16 is connected to the opening edge facing the openingedge where the bolt fastening portion 35 is provided and hence is as faras possible from the bolt fastening portion 35. Therefore, properpositioning is particularly effective and a force in a rotationaldirection is minimized. The positioning rib 16 projects from the openingedge of the base-side housing 30 into the interior of the cover housing40. Thus, the positioning rib 16 is in contact with the inner surface ofthe cover housing 40 when the housings 30, 40 are assembled in properpostures to prevent rotation of the cover housing 40.

The clip 60 has a substantially box-shaped main body 61. A mountingportion where the main body 61 is to be mounted is provided in thehousing 11. As can be understood from a comparison of FIGS. 8 and 9,this mounting portion is substantially bilaterally symmetrically dividedby the base housing 30 and the cover housing 40 and the mountingportions of the base housing 30 and the cover housing 40 face each otherwhen the housings 30, 40 are assembled.

As shown in FIG. 8, the mounting portion of the base housing 30 includestwo base retaining portions 32, 32 for preventing forward and backwardmovements of the main body 61, two base restricting portions 33, 33 forpreventing up and down movements of the main body 61 and two base tightholding portions 34, 34 for preventing left and right movements of themain body 61. On the other hand, the mounting portion of the coverhousing 40 includes two cover retaining portion 42, 42 for preventingforward and backward movements of the main body 61, two coverrestricting portions 43, 43 for preventing up and down movements of themain body 61 and two cover tight holding portions 44, 44 for preventingleft and right movements of the main body 61. Here, vertical and lateraldirections refer to the orientation in FIG. 7.

The base retaining portions 32, 32 and the cover retaining portions 42,42 are substantially plate-like and are held in substantially surfacecontact with the front and rear surfaces of the main body 61, as shownin FIG. 6 to prevent the inclination of the main body 61 whilepreventing forward and backward movements of the main body 61. Further,a passage hole 14 is formed between the base-side retaining portions 32,32 and the cover-side retaining portions 42, 42 for receiving the wireW.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, each of the base tight holding portions 34and the cover tight holding portions 44 has a front-back rib extendingin forward and backward directions FBD and a vertical rib extending inthe vertical direction (substantially normal to the forward and backwarddirections FBD). Specifically, two front-back ribs are substantiallyparallel and two vertical ribs are arranged in series. As shown in FIG.7, the base tight holding portions 34 and the cover tight holdingportions 44 are substantially in line contact with the left and rightsurfaces of the main body 61 and/prevent inclination and lateralmovements of the main body 61.

The base restricting portions 33, 33 and the cover restricting portions43, 43 all are substantially plate-like and facing parts of the baserestricting portions 33 and the cover restricting portions 43 are spacedapart by a specified distance in the lateral direction, as shown in FIG.7. Further, the base restricting portions 33, 33 are in substantiallysurface contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the main body 61 toprevent inclination of the main body 61 and to prevent up and downmovements of the main body 61. On the other hand, the cover restrictingportions 43, 43 are in substantially surface contact with the upper andlower surfaces of the main body 61 to prevent inclination of the mainbody 61 and to prevent up and down movements of the main body 61. Thatis, the main body 61 of the clip 60 is held so as not to rotate orincline relative to the housing 11 and is prevented from movingvertically, laterally and longitudinally.

The rear retaining portions 32, 42 are connected to the bolt fasteningportions 35, 45. Recesses 36, 46 are formed at the front and rear sidesof the bolt fastening portions 35, 45 on the opening edges of thehousings 30, 40. Front and rear water drainage holes are formed near thebase recesses 36 and the cover recesses 46 when the housings 30, 40 areassembled. Thus, water that may have entered the interior of the grip 13is discharged to the outside through the water drainage holes.

The main body 61 of the clip 60 is formed by assembling half members 62shown in FIG. 11 with each other. The half members 62 are identicalcomponents and each includes a bottom wall 63. A front wall 64F and arear wall 64R stand up from the front and rear edges of the bottom wall63 while substantially facing each other, and left and right side walls65L, 65R stand up from the left and right edges of the bottom wall 63while substantially facing each other. Openings 63B are formed at fourcorners of the bottom wall 63. Thus, water that may have entered theinterior of the main body 61 can be discharged to the outside by theopenings 63B.

As shown in FIG. 13, a substantially round hole 63A penetrates thecenter of the bottom wall 63. The holes 63A, 63A are coaxial when thehalf members 62, 62 are assembled, as shown in FIG. 13. Further, thebase tight holding portions 34 and the cover tight holding portions 44hold the bottom wall 63 tightly from left and right sides, as shown inFIG. 7. Grooves 34A, 44A are formed at positions of the tight holdingportions 34, 44 corresponding to the round holes 63A, 63A. In this way,water that may have entered the interior of the main body 61 of the clip60 can be discharged to the outside via the holes 63A, the grooves 34A,44A and the recesses 36, 46.

As shown in FIG. 14, end edges of the front walls 64A face each otherand butt each other from left and right sides. The butting edge of eachfront wall 64A, 64A each includes an arcuate curved portion 66. Thecurved portions 66, 66 face each other when the two half members 62, 62are assembled to define a wire insertion hole 67 through which the wireW is inserted. The curved portions 66, 66 engage and resiliently pressthe wire W, as shown in FIG. 6, without damaging the insulation coatingof the wire W. Thus, the metal clip 60 firmly retains the wire W withoutdamage to the wire W.

Escaping portions 68 are provided at the opposite ends of each curvedportion 66 and incline radially out of the wire insertion hole 67, asshown in FIG. 14. Escaping spaces are formed in areas sandwiched betweenthe escaping portions 68 and communicate with the wire insertion hole 67when the half members 62 are assembled. The wire W can escape into theescaping spaces when held excessively tightly by the curved portions 66.Further, the front and rear walls 64F, 64R are deformed away from eachother with the bottom wall 63 as a center when the curved portions 66are pressed firmly against the wire W so that a pressing force acting onthe wire W can be relaxed, thereby further assuring that the curvedportions 66 will not damage the wire W.

As shown in FIG. 14, the wire insertion holes 67 are coaxial and spacedapart in the longitudinal direction of the wire W. Thus, pressing forceson the wire W are less than if the wire W was held only by one wireinsertion hole 67.

A positioning projection 69 is provided on one end of each of thebutting edges of the front walls 64F, 64F, and a step 70 for receivingthe mating positioning projection 69 is on the other end. Thepositioning projections 69 fit in the steps 70 and lock in the verticaldirection to prevent displacements of the assembled half members 62, 62.

A locking hole 71 penetrates through one of the left and right sidewalls 65L, 65R, and a resiliently deformable locking piece 72 isprovided at the other by cutting and bending. The locking piece 72 ofthe one half member 62 fits in the locking hole 71 of the other halfmember 62 when the half members 62, 62 are assembled so that the tip ofthe locking piece 72 engages the inner surface of the locking hole 71,as shown in FIG. 15, to retain the half members 62, 62. Note that, withthe locking pieces 72 fit in the locking holes 71, the positioningprojections 69 and the steps 70 come into contact if there is an attemptto separate the locking pieces 72 from the locking holes 71 in adirection perpendicular to an assembling direction of the half members62, 62. Thus the locking pieces 72 are held in the locking holes 71 andthe both half members 62, 62 are held assembled.

The front housing 20 and the lever 50 are assembled with the base-sidehousing 30. Additionally, the wire W is supported by both curvedportions 66 of one half member 62 of the clip 60. The two half members62 then are assembled to one another to hold the wire W tightly by thecurved portions 66, 66 of the half members 62, 62. In this way, the clip60 is fixed to the wire W.

Subsequently, the clip 60 is mounted in a proper posture between the twobase retaining portions 32, 32 in the grip 13 and between the both baserestricting portions 33, 33 in the grip 13. In this state, the front andrear walls 64F, 64R of the half member 62 are in substantially surfacecontact with the base retaining portions 32, 32, the left and right sidewalls 65L, 65R of the half member 62 are in substantially surfacecontact with the both base restricting portions 33, 33 and the bottomwall 63 of the half member 62 is in substantially line contact with thebase tight holding portions 34. The half members 62 then are assembledso that the curved portions 66, 66 press the wire W. The locking pieces72, 72, which had been resiliently deformed by the lateral side walls65L, 65R, return resiliently upon reaching proper mount positions andfit into the locking holes 71, 71. In this way, the two half members 62,62 are assembled to form the main body 61, and this main body 61 isfixed to the wire W.

The cover housing 40 then is assembled with the base housing 30. Thus,the flange 22 of the front housing 20 is fit into the mounting grooves31, 41 of the housings 30, 40 and the front housing 20 is held tightlyby both housings 30, 40. Subsequently, the bolts B are tightened intothe bolt fastening portions 35, 45. The cover housing 40 may try torotate in a clockwise direction as the bolts B are tightened into thebolt fastening portions 35, 45 in the grip 13 due to a torque producedat the time of tightening. However, the inner surface of the coverhousing 40 contacts the positioning ribs 16 of the base housing 30 toprevent rotation of the cover housing 40. The charging connector 10 iscompleted by tightening the bolts B.

As described above, in this embodiment, the main body 61 of the (metal)clip 60 particularly is retained by being held from front and/or rearside(s) by the retaining portions 32, 42, held from upper and/or lowersides by the restricting portions 33, 43 and/or held from lateral (leftand/or right) side(s) by the tightly holding portions 34, 44.Accordingly, the rotation of the main body 61 of the metal clip 60 aboutthe axis of the wire W and/or its displacement in the grip part 13is/are prevented and the main body 61 particularly is retained in thelongitudinal direction of the wire W. Further, since the wire Wparticularly can be uniformly pressed by the curved portions 66, 66, thedamage of the wire W can be prevented. Furthermore, since the escapingportions 68 particularly are provided to allow the wire W to partlyescape and a pair of front and rear wire insertion holes 67 areprovided, a pressing force acting on the wire W can be reduced and thedamage of the wire W can be further prevented.

As described above, the cover housing 40 may try to rotate in theclockwise direction about the bolt fastening portion 35 when the bolt Bis tightened. However, the positioning rib 16 is provided on the openingedge at the side opposite to the bolt fastening portion 35 in the grip13. The positioning rib 16 contacts the inner surface of the coverhousing 40 to prevent rotation of the cover housing 40. Thus, it issufficient to provide the positioning ribs 16 only in the base housing30 and it is not necessary to provide the cover housing 40 with adisplacement preventing mechanism. Thus, the housings 30, 40 can bepositioned without being subject to spatial restriction. Further, thepositioning ribs 16 are provided at the position distant from the boltfastening portion 35 so that a force acting on the positioning rib 16 ina rotational direction can be minimized.

The invention is not limited to the above described embodiment. Forexample, the following embodiments also are included in the scope of theinvention.

The metal clip 60 is used as the wire holding member in the aboveembodiment. However, a clip made of resin may be used according to theinvention. In this case, two half members may be linked by a flexiblehinge.

Although the curved portions are arcuate in the above embodiments, theshape of the curved portions is not limited to the arcuate shapeaccording to the present invention and another curved shape may beadopted provided that the curved portions having such a shape cantightly hold the wire W.

Two escaping portions 68, 68 are provided at opposite ends of the curvedportion 66 in the above embodiment. However, an escaping portion may beprovided in the center of the curved portion according to the invention.

Front and rear wire insertion holes 67, 67 are provided in the main body61. However, only one wire insertion hole may be provided according tothe present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wire holder to be mounted in a housing of acharging connector, the wire holder comprising: two half membersassembled with each other to form a main body, each of the half membershaving a base wall, opposed front and rear walls extending from the basewall and opposed first and second side walls extending from the basewall, the first side wall of each of the half members having a lockinghole and the second side wall of each of the half members having alocking piece, the half members being assembled together so that thebase walls are opposed to each other and so that the locking piecesengage in the locking holes to lock the half members together, the frontand rear walls having butting edges remote from the base wall, thebutting edges being formed with curved portions facing one another andforming at least one wire insertion hole therebetween, the curvedportions of the wire insertion hole being configured for tightly holdinga wire.
 2. The wire holder of claim 1, wherein the half members areidentical.
 3. The wire holding member of claim 2, wherein the curvedportions are arcuate.
 4. The wire holder of claim 1, wherein escapingportions are provided on the front and rear walls at the opposite endsof the curved portion and incline radially outward of the wire insertionhole.
 5. The wire holder of claim 1, wherein the at least one wireinsertion hole comprises two wire insertion holes coaxially arrangedwhile being spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the wire.
 6. Acharging connector comprising: a housing formed from two opposed housinghalves, the housing halves being configured to define a mounting portiontherebetween, the mounting portion including two opposed retaining wallsand two opposed restricting walls; at least one wire drawn out from thehousing; and a wire holder mounted in the mounting portion of thehousing, the wire holder having two half members assembled with eachother to form a main body, each of the half members having a base wall,opposed front and rear walls extending from the base wall and engagingfacing surfaces of the opposed retaining walls of the housing, andopposed first and second side walls extending from the base wall andengaging facing surfaces of the restricting walls of the housing, thefirst side wall of each of the half members having a locking hole andthe second side wall of each of the half members having a locking piece,the half members being assembled together so that the base walls areopposed to each other and so that the locking pieces engage in thelocking holes to lock the half members together, the front and rearwalls having butting edges remote from the base wall, the butting edgesformed with curved portions facing one another and forming at least onewire insertion hole therebetween, the curved portions of the wireinsertion hole being configured for tightly holding the wire, the mainbody being prevented from moving in longitudinal and circumferentialdirections of the wire relative to the housing by surface contact ofouter surfaces of the front wall, the rear wall and the side walls ofthe main body with facing surfaces of the retaining walls and therestricting walls of the housing.
 7. The charging connector of claim 6,wherein the housing is integrally formed by fixing first and second halfmembers to each other.
 8. The charging connector of claim 7, furthercomprising a connector connecting portion mounted in a front end portionof the housing and tightly held by the both half members; and at leastone positioning portion for positioning the half members is provided ata position of one half member distant from the connector connectingportion and contacts the inner surface of the other half member when thehalf members are assembled in proper postures.
 9. The charging connectorof claim 8, wherein the mounting portion is divided substantiallybilaterally symmetrically by both half members and parts of the mountingportion disposed in the respective half members are arranged tosubstantially face each other with the half members assembled.
 10. Thecharging connector of claim 8, wherein the positioning portion isprovided adjacent to the mounting portion.
 11. The charging connector ofclaim 6, wherein the half members are fixed to each other by bolting.12. The charging connector of claim 11, wherein a plurality of boltfastening portions are arranged in the one half member; and wherein thepositioning portion is provided at a position to prevent the other halfmember from rotating upon receiving a force in a rotational directionproduced as the bolting is performed at the bolt fastening portionarranged at a position most distant from the connector connectingportion (20).
 13. The charging connector of claim 12, wherein thepositioning portion is connected to one opening edge of the one halfmember and the bolt fastening portion is connected to another openingedge substantially facing the one opening edge.
 14. A charging connectorof claim 6, wherein the housing includes a grip arranged behind theconnector connecting portion and from which the wire is drawn out; andthe positioning portion is provided in the grip.